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Never put passion before principle. Even if win, you lose. - Mr. Miyagi. Do you remember the old Karate Kid trilogy? Some of us may be more familiar with the remake than the originals, but watching them, as dated and as cheesy as they may seem, there is much we can learn. When Mr. Miyagi says that in Episode II it really sticks, because we could use a Mir. Miyagi right now.

When I think of the word "passion," I think of writing and dance and things in my world, like the environment that I care deeply about. Follow your passion. LIve life with passion. I'm passionate about...And so on. I've never really thought of the word in a negative way. But then, of course, when I really think about it, it's always been used in both ways, hasn't it? "Crimes of passion" for instance, or in the "heat of passion."  But it's true. Sometimes, our passions can compromise our principles. They can make us blind. Inconsiderate. Selfish. Self-absorbed. Narcissistic. And perhaps, like anything, drinking, for instance, or even loving someone or caring about a cause, we might get carried away, lose sight of truth, get lost. And with being lost, we might lose our principles. I'm sad to say, I see it in the writing community. Cheating the system. Paying for reviews. Paying readers. Some get caught, and for a second, we think the world is righting itself. But they only reinvent themselves and go at it again...But there are far bigger problems than that nonsense.

What happens when it seems principles are forgotten at large? Who decides on what principles matter and which do not? I care deeply about certain things that others do not. Does that mean my principles are correct and theirs aren't? It's murky, isn't it? And, I'm afraid, America's principles seem to revolve so heavily around money, that the ol' mighty dollar now seems to be synonymous with the word passion at the expense of principles. The environment. Human kindness. Treatment of people and animals. Hey, if we're making a buck, who gives a fuck, right? -- WRONG!

While watching a new series featuring Zac Effron, Down to Earth (I know. I want to start singing HIgh School Musical songs too), it becomes all too clear. The first two episodes, the first Iceland; the second France, shows me that America has gotten so far off track, environmentally, healthily, humanitarily, (word or not, I don't care), equally...it truly begins to frighten me sick.

If other countries can provide and live off 100% renewable energy, like Iceland (and I don't want to toot my own horn, but for my Edge of Torment series, I did quite a bit of research on Iceland for my protagonist, Michael, who studied there, and whose life mission focuses on green and renewable energy--if you'd only read it--:) ); and France--Paris giving water (good, clean nutrient water) to ALL, free and easily accessible in public places like parks, etc.--why aren't we doing better? Why are we going backwards? Why are we pulling back from all these things we've learned and know, KNOW, we should be doing? We can do our part. And I've blogged about that here, but the government should be doing its part, should be doing more, not going back in time!  But we don't care about what other countries are doing. We're the most powerful country on Earth. We're rich. Fuck the past. Fuck the future. I want to make money! My passion is excess at the expense of everything and everyone.

When money is the only passion we make decisions from, we're in trouble. And, folks, we're in trouble. Where's Mr. Miyagi when you need him? I'm afraid, he's nowhere to be found. And soon, neither will we.